On January 1st, an Arkansas-bred filly named Gretl turned three-years-old in her barn at Oaklawn Park.
She didn’t receive any birthday cakes, fancy cards and fans didn’t line up for a photo outside her stall. January 1st was simply an ordinary day in her life.
Gretl didn’t seem to mind one bit. She is in the business of being ordinary.
Yet, I would soon learn that the business of being ordinary is quite an extraordinary endeavor.
As I walked through the shed row with her Trainer Tim Ice, I asked questions about all of the horses. I was wondering if any could be potential Triple Crown contenders or win major stakes outings.
It seemed to me that the value of a racehorse in a Thoroughbred stable was based on their ability to rise to the highest peak in the industry.
I was wrong.
There is something extraordinary about being ordinary.
Gretl poked her head out.
For an “ordinary” horse, she delivered quite a playful greeting. She stamped her hooves, swooped to kiss at my coat, and when it was impossible to ignore her, she raised her teeth in a silly smile as if she had won something.
And, in that moment, Gretl had me convinced that she had won an extraordinary race that I failed to watch.
But, I would soon learn that she was simply in the business of being ordinary. Gretl hadn’t won a stakes race. She wasn’t pointing toward graded outings. Instead, she is just focusing on ordinary goals in her career.
Right now, Gretl’s goal is to simply win her first race.
I thought, “There must be some spectacular goal after her maiden victory?” In my mind, it seemed to be the point of racing.
I was wrong.
Gretl isn’t focusing on being the next great horse. She appears to think it is extraordinary to be ordinary.
She may be right. Apparently, the business of being ordinary isn’t a small endeavor. Ice explained, “They aren’t all going to be great horses, but they all have their value and worth.”
Gretl is among the quiet majority of racehorses that give their best and fall short of pinning their star in the constellation of immortal greats.
But, there is something great about horses like Gretl. Ice pointed out, “Every horse has their spot where they can win. Any time you win a race, it’s exciting. From the claiming horses to the top level.”
With a single winless horse, my definition of “greatness” evolved into something new. Yes, “greatness” is demonstrated in the champion racehorses and those who excel well beyond our wildest imagination in racing.
Yet, “greatness” is also a quiet endeavor that ordinary racehorses display in their everyday life. Without fan fare or pageantry, Gretl steps onto the track, runs to her fullest capability and fights for a victory to call her own.
Her victories won’t bring garlands of flowers or adoring fans to her stall. In the end, she will simply go back to her stable and bask in an extraordinary moment in her ordinary career.
But, the business of being ordinary is extraordinary. It is the journey of every racehorse to try to tap into their full potential and see where it takes them in the racing world.
It may take them to claiming races or it may lead them to the highest level of racing.
But, wherever it leads, the beauty is in the attempt. It is getting into the ring without any fan fare or glory. And, even a quiet win, however small, is a glorious victory.
Gretl taught me to be a fan of the ordinary racehorse. Racing isn’t just the realm of the ones that garner the spotlight, but also, the horses that spend their career in the shadows of great horses and fight for small moments of victory.
Greatness is present when any horse sets foot on a track and puts in their full effort.
Greatness lives in every victory, no matter how small or big.
Greatness exists whenever a racehorse achieves something extraordinary in their ordinary life.
Thank you for this article! Every racehorse is special and it’s nice to see someone praise the beauty of the athlete. Go Gretl!
Thank you, Sheila! I appreciate your nice comment!
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by TBAblogs, Jennifer Wirth. Jennifer Wirth said: Have you heard of Gretl?
She's undertaking "The Extraordinary Endeavor of Being an Ordinary Racehorse. " http://bit.ly/i3Q88e [...]
MOE REEL GOOD STUFF HEAR DEAR…$HOOT N FORE “THE CLAIMING CROWN” RACE$???…I$ PRETTY $TRONG TOO…BLUE COLLAR HORSES R THE BACK BONE OF “THE GAME”…NOE BOUT THAT ONE WIN & BEE N Oh! SOE CLOSE!!!…ty…
Thanks, Bellwether. I love your comment, “Blue Collar Horses are the Back Bone of the Game.” I agree.
[...] post: The Extraordinary Endeavor of Being an Ordinary Racehorse. | THE … Related Posts:Not an Ordinary Horse Racing Fan - And Down The Stretch They Come There are [...]
“They all have their value and worth.” Very nicely said.
Loved this, Jennifer.
And so nicely written.
Thank you, Ernie. I appreciate your kind comment.
Gretl needs a Fb fan page. (and if you do it, PLEASE put “Gretl + Other” as the option so we can see what we all post).
Merry ~ That is such a sweet idea. I don’t know who would maintain it, but maybe it could happen someday. (I’ll keep watching Gretl and maybe write a few more stories about her endeavors. She is a fun girl)
Maybe an associate of the trainer/owner would be open to doing it? You never know…and how fun! They just might have their own Dottie
Either way, I do hope to hear updates whenever you have them. Thanks again for the great article.
Your writing is very moving, no matter the subject. This particular article should be shared with many the many fans of those that have spectacular careers in order for them to realize how important it is that all race horses have a place in this world and indeed should be loved, protected and respected for their athletic ability and the heart that goes into their “job”. Thank you for your words and look forward to hearing many more.
Jean ~ Thank you very much for the wonderful comment. I agree with you. All racehorse should be loved and respected for their ability.
Candace ~ I think you have a wonderful idea. I will follow-up with Gretl’s trainer, Tim Ice, on “Gretl updates” and try to post more about her in the future. She is full of personality.
Very, very well said.All the horses that try hard are great.
Thank for you the kind comment, Thomas. I appreciate it.
Your message resonates so well, I hope that more and more people think like you. We are in pathetic times in racing when the “best” horses do a few dances, and then are immediately wisked away to the breeding shed. People grovel and shriek about the smallest accomplishments of our “great” horses of today. Of course I appreciate the “great” horses of today, but they are not allowed to accomplish what the truly great horses of the past have done. So, I am done wasting too much devotion to those horses - who can get so involved with horses who will not be around for more than a season?
Now, I like to follow the “extraordinary” racehorses like Gretl, whom you can follow, root for win or lose, and develop a relationship with as you see them race time and again, year after year.
Tim Ice is a good trainer, and a nice person. I wish him luck and continued success- his head and his heart seem to be in the right place.
“THE HORSE” IS “THE KING” OF THIS PLANET…PERIOD…ty again…
Thank you for publicly recognizing the real beauty of the sport in the “ordinary” racehorse, which as you saw is actually quite extraordinary. To me, they’re all champions.
John C. ~ Thank you for the nice comment. I agree with you. I enjoy following the “greats,” but I think horses like Gretl are wonderful to follow as well. I’d love to devote an ongoing series on the “ordinary” horses.
Bellweather ~ You bet “The Horse is the King.” Great words.
BB ~ Thank you for the kind comment. I appreciate it.
Well put. I haven’t trained any world-beaters but actually, the most gratifying racehorses and wins are with the “problem child” horses that you really have to figure out, the chronic problem horses that you can get sound, the hard trying individuals that always give you 100%. Believe it or not, some of those old timers that have all that class, cheap or not, some of them think they’ve won photos, they know where the winner’s circle and try to drag you over for a picture! Yes, there really are horses like that! I’ll take ordinary, honest horses any day of the week.
ty U DEAR…TWO-GATHER WE ALL WILL SAVE “THE PLANET” & “THE GREATEST GAME ON EARTH”…LONG LIVE BOTH!!!…ty…
Amen, Jennifer!
Bodhi, (great grandson of Foolish Pleasure) the OTTB who never raced after flipping over in the starting gate his first time in, is just as unremarkably…remarkable as…
…beautiful Gretl!
Although blessed with blinding (sprinter) speed (I once clocked him at approximately 22.50 seconds for a quarter mile straightaway sprint when Bodhi spooked & raced away (from me & the source of his spooking-a deer who jumped out behind us as we cantered past a shrub line) along a marked (even with a slight incline) course, Bodhi…
…never took to racing (apart from his aversion to the starting gate, Bodhi-as his former racing trainer cryptically recounted to me, simply did not “want to run”).
I say approximately because I had to recover, pull up my arm festooned with the eventing watch with the embedded split timer & guestimate the actual quarter-mile markers…along the fence line
Inmy estimation, Bodhi was/is/ just too…intelligent ever to have wanted to become a race horse.
Instead, he is developing into a (now ) beginning-intermediate level dressage horse, evincing a very un-thoroughbred-like (developing topline) & arching neck (even at the walk-looking much more like a European warmblood).
Every once in a while, I shorten the stirrup straps, stand up in the irons, & we race around the 1/2 mile oval at our boarding facility-& this is as close as Bodhi ever wants to get to being a…
…”remarkable” thoroughbred race-horse.
In the end, what is important is that: Bodhi is “remakable” in my eyes-& in the eyes of all those who know & love him.
Thanks for the wonderful piece, Jennifer
This is absolutely amazing writing Jennifer, I was so engrossed and moved reading this. You have a fantastic gift for this style of writing.
Keep up the awesome work!
Lisa J. ~ Thank you for your wonderful comment. (I loved the part where you said some of them “drag you to the winner’s circle.” That is so sweet.)
M-D ~ Thank you for the story about Bodhi. I enjoyed reading it. Especially your quote, “Bodhi is remarkable in my eyes and in the eyes of all those who know and love him.” What a beautiful statement.
Brian ~ Thank you for the nice compliment. I always enjoy reading your blog as well. You have a gift for writing.